UIC Faculty Goes On Strike

Hundreds of faculty members from the University of Illinois at Chicago began a two-day strike Tuesday to protest what they believe are low wages.

The University of Illinois at Chicago United Faculty (UICUF) union and the school administration have been locked in a stalemate over a contract for more than a year.

"We are striking to win the attention of the board, the city, the state of the nation and it's time to put our university back together," UICUF president Joe Persky said.

Union members say the school is not willing to pay the faculty what they're worth.

"I make 30,000 a year before taxes," UIC lecturer John Casey said. "If you're in my position and you're working just this one job, you find yourself with about $100 dollars a month to pay the bills."

Some of the unresolved issues in the contract include better classroom conditions, merit-based promotions and compensation, and a living wage for non-tenured faculty.

Administration say that since this is a new union, there is a learning curve.

"This is the first contract. It requires a lot of time to make sure it's right for everyone, especially the students, because they are the ones that pay their money to come here," UIC provots Lon Kaufman said.